In an industry that has long echoed with male voices—both literally and behind the scenes—Prateeksha Srivastava is helping rewrite the tune. A singer, composer, and a force of creative intention, Prateeksha isn’t just carving out space for herself in Bollywood’s music landscape—she’s opening doors for an entire generation of women ready to make their sound heard.“I am tired of listening to all kinds of emotions in the voice of male singers,” she says, without hesitation. “It’s not that it’s not great, but I think somehow we have forgotten what female emotions sound like in the true sense… I want to be the legacy and start a new movement for female composers and musicians in this country. It has to happen now.” Her words are not just ambition—they’re an anthem.
Rooted in Tradition, Reaching for the Future
Prateeksha’s musical journey began at the age of three with classical training under the guidance of her parents and other mentors. “They are the foundation. And foundation helps the building remain in its position and not crumble and fall,” she says. “That’s exactly what lessons by my father, mother and my other teachers have done for me.”That foundation is evident in her seamless blend of classical influence and contemporary instinct, which has found resonance with a new generation of listeners. Whether it’s the viral hit “Aankh” or her indie collaborations, her sound carries emotional weight, narrative integrity, and bold personality.
Wearing Two Hats—Singer and Composer
While many struggle to find balance, Prateeksha thrives in the duality of being both a composer and a vocalist. “It’s fun, I love it,” she says. “It’s great to have both perspectives… it helps me in both processes simultaneously, so balancing it is rather my good fortune.”She often composes songs for her own voice, making the creative process that much more cohesive. “Most of my songs I compose for my voice… and I absolutely love Mohan Kannan Sir’s voice,” she shares when asked about her go-to vocalists.As a singer, she dreams of lending her voice to actresses like Alia Bhatt, Priyanka Chopra, and Mrunal Thakur—women who represent the same blend of strength, depth, and vulnerability that defines her music.
The Digital Evolution
The growing acceptance of indie music in India has offered Prateeksha—and many like her—a creative runway not confined by commercial formulas. “The audience is definitely more welcoming to non-film music now than before… it’s gradually becoming a community-thing,” she explains. “Listeners are connecting more with the narrative and the artist identity.”Despite Aankh topping India’s viral charts, virality hasn’t altered her process. “A song doing great number-wise is a thing I am very grateful for. But it doesn’t influence or impact or even enter my studio or my creative process. Every song has its journey.”
Breaking Through a Gendered Soundscape
Being a woman in Bollywood’s music composition space isn’t just rare—it’s still radical. “Of course, I think we all [face challenges], be it any gender,” she says. “But I will not sugarcoat this—being a female is very hard no matter what profession you are in. You need to have 2x confidence, 2x great attitude and personality and 5x belief in yourself.”That belief didn’t come overnight. “I took a long time to develop these… but now, nobody can underestimate me and I hope that all of us develop immense belief in our own selves.”Prateeksha credits western songwriters as early influences but says her path in Hindi music was self-forged. “I started this journey only with a belief. I just knew I am going to do it and I never looked back.”
Where Are the Women?
Shreya Ghoshal recently pointed out that only about 10 percent of solo film songs in Bollywood are sung by women—a jarring drop from the balanced soundscape of the early 2000s. Prateeksha agrees this change is palpable.“Yes, this wasn’t the case earlier. I think this happened after 2010–2012-ish. Gradually, somehow, all kinds of emotions are being sung by males. Public has unknowingly been deprived of female-led songs… and that has become a big block.”She adds that the shift isn’t just in vocals, but in representation across the board—from composition to production. Yet, Prateeksha doesn’t see the solution as simply “women doing romantic ballads.” In fact, she embraces sonic experimentation. “If you look at Sneha Khanwalkar’s album—it’s a masterpiece. It has all kinds of sounds and songs. So this restriction isn’t there… I see women doing more experimental and heavy sounds. I am one of them too!”
So what does the future look like for women in music?
For Prateeksha, the answer lies in unity and support. “I want to be the legacy,” she repeats. That legacy, in her mind, includes mentoring other women, leading women-led projects, and collaborating with dream artists like AR Rahman, Skrillex, PinkPantheress, Santosh Narayanan, and Sid Sriram.
Her vision isn’t utopian—it’s actionable.
She believes India needs platforms and funding specifically for female composers and producers. “We need more projects that let women lead from the front, creatively and technically,” she hints. “And we need listeners to champion that work, not just consume it passively.”
Final Note
When asked what she’d tell young girls looking to enter the industry, Prateeksha doesn’t hesitate and says, “Have belief in yourself. It takes time. But keep going. Don’t wait for validation. You are already enough.” And when people look back on her work a decade from now? “I hope they see a woman who didn’t just compose music—but composed change.”
